Toe surgery could end El Duque's career

Link:

Orlando Hernandez's career may be over. He is opting for surgery on his right big toe, which has a bunion. El Duque previously had resisted that procedure because the recovery time could cost him more than a full season.

Scott Reifert wrote an interesting tidbit on his blog:

Laughing before the game, some staff members remembered El Duque's heroic effort in Game 3 of the 2005 Division Series at Boston.  With the bases loaded, El Duque was summoned in from the bullpen ...

"Can you imagine what it was like," someone offered.  "The phone rings in the bullpen and guys are shaking in fear on the bench.  Duque stands and says, 'That is for me." (imagine a heavy Cuban accent)

After getting out of the jam and after the White Sox won that game to advance to the ALCS, Duque offered ...

"Those situations, they are easy," he explained.  "Everyone wants to be the hero, so they swing at anything and get themselves out.  Just throw sliders out of the strike zone."

And what about that final 3-2 pitch to Damon with no place to put him, pretty tough to throw that slider then?

Front door slider.  Probably the only strike he threw during the at-bat.

A piece of White Sox history.

What a ballsy mo-fo.  Thanks for one of the greatest innings in postseason history, El Duque!